“He nods, as if to acknowledge that endings are almost always a little sad, even when there is something to look forward to on the other side.”

“On the mainland he had always lived in the future, always looking forward to the completion of the project in hand. When he passed his exams, got the new contract, married Louise, paid off the mortgage: when, in turn, each of these dreams was realized, then, and only then, would he be happy. All were ends, to be reached by any means expedient or possible. He saw now that there were no such things as ends, only means: for ends were phantoms that melted away when approached, only to reform into other ends further off.”

“Always have something to look forward to”

“He was my confidant, the person who was always on my side even when he wasn't taking my side.”

“He was looking at her with amused suspicion. There was something between them, and even she had to acknowledge that a tame remark about the weather sounded perverse.”

“He looks sad. Or maybe that's just how he looks when he isn't doing something else with his face.”